- Monday, 13 April 2026 10:39
- Written by David Pipe
Parchment - Weekend Entry
It has been a fairly quiet week all-round here at Pond House though Jack and myself had a good trip to Aintree, met lots of people and bought a horse! Jack and I were up there on Thursday and Friday and there was some good racing and a great atmosphere. We are also delighted to have bought Max Potential from the sales that followed racing on Thursday evening. He is a nice four-year-old by Maxios who would have won his only start in an Irish point to point had he not fallen at the final fence last month and he has settled in well since arriving. We will do a bit or work with him now to learn about him before turning him away for the summer. He is a lovely big horse who still has a bit of growing to do and he will be one to look forward to in bumpers in the autumn.
This Week
We will be fairly quiet on the runner’s front in the early part of this week with our first entries coming on Friday where we have entries at three different meetings. Bashful Boy now sports the colours of the David Pipe Racing Club and has an entry at Bath on the flat and also at Exeter over hurdles. Show Your Hand could have his second career start in the bumper at our local track, while October Hill and Green Sky may be look to back up their good recent runs in different races. All of the horses will want some rain though to take up their engagements. The track says they are forecast up to 20mm of rain before racing so we will be hoping that they get this. Also on Friday we have Phantomofthepoints and Penn Avenue entered up at Ayr which is the first day of the Scottish National meeting.
It was due to be Cheltenham’s two day April meeting this week but that was of course changed following emergency drainage works which are having to take place. There were sales scheduled to take place after racing and these are still going ahead. 35 lots are drafted to be sold and I am busy going through the catalogue at the moment. The majority are Irish point to pointers but there are some bumper performers as well and horses to suit varying budgets.
At the weekend, we have Parchment entered at Bangor in a novice’s hurdle but his participation will depend on the ground later in the week. We hold him in high regard but after disappointing on stable debut at Kempton back in November which was too bad to be true we have given him all the time he has needed to come right. He seems in good form at home and if he runs I hope he shows us all what he shows at home.
Breeding Venture
Betty Bowler is an un-raced five-year-old mare out of our formerly very good mare Swing Bowler who was owned by David Johnson during her racing career. She was the daughter of the high class Lady Cricket and half-brother to the very good Red Sherlock. All those mentioned are horses that have done very well here at Pond House. Kenny Alexander had Swing Bowler after her racing days for breeding and she has bred our very own Phantomofthepoints who has done very well and is currently rated 135 over hurdles. Betty, is the younger half-sister to Phantom and looks very much like her mum in appearance! We received good news in recent days that she has been covered by Passing Glance and we will keep everything crossed that she scans in foal next week. we shall look forward to following her journey then in the coming months. Passing Glance is based at Batsford Stud in the Cotswolds and despite being 27 years of age he is still in good working order. They have reduced the numbers of mares he now covers but he has a very good stud record. Dashel Drasher is probably the best horse he has sired but Latenightpass, Strong Leader, A Pai De Nom and Glance at Midnight are just some of the good horses he has produced. We shall look forward to following Betty’s journey then in the coming months.
Weekend Pointing and Pony Racing
Jack Pipe has his pony Little Chiefy entered in the 1m2f 148cm race at Flete Park on Saturday. This race will be the furthest race in distance they would have ran in this year and is expected to suit. So far, all the races have been one mile or less when we know Jack’s pony probably needs 1m4f to be seen at his best. There are plenty of races over this sort of trip in the racecourse series which starts in May and all being well, that is where Jack and his pony head next after Flete. There are nine entries in the race and the plan at this stage is to run.
Ben Lilly is likely to have entries at Flete on Saturday and maybe Cotley on Sunday as we look to try and get his first win in the pointing field under his belt.
Martha Pipe took part in a little show jumping competition not far from Exeter racecourse on Sunday. Borrowing the famous local pony named ‘Birdie’ kindly loaned by Jenny Carr they got on great in two classes and finished third in one of them. If Martha had the same need for speed as her brother, I am sure they could have won but they are like chalk and cheese and she was happy just having a lovely time!
Weekend Round Up
I would like to congratulate Dan Skelton on becoming Champion trainer for the first time, he has had a terrific season. Also well done to Willie Mullins, Paul Townend and J P McManus on winning the Grand National with I Am Maximus for the second time. Carrying top weight to victory was an extraordinary performance and you wouldn’t bet on him coming back again next year and running well again. J P McManus had first, second and fourth in the big race and you cannot begrudge him this success. He puts so much into our sport and it is deserved success. It was a great result for racing in general with I am Maximus winning for the people, with plenty of drama but all the horses returning home safely. Mr Vango did go for veterinary treatment following his fall at Becher’s with Jack Tudor but the news about him is positive and he will be fine following a period of rest and should be back racing next season.
There are just two weeks left of the National Hunt season but with the weather as it is and remaining dry, things ae beginning to wind down a little. It won’t be long until we turn the horses out to grass but we had an overnight frost here on Sunday night and a snow and hail shower on Saturday so the weather needs to improve and warm up before they go on their holidays.
